Czech Land of Stories
The walls of the Father of the Nation
Jihlava - Třebíč - Telč - Želiv | Length: 147 | Duration: 1 Day
Day 1
Jihlava is situated about one hundred and thirty kilometres from Prague, the journey takes about an
hour and a quarter if you use the motorway. Alternatively, you can use a direct bus. The itinerary for
towns is planned for walking. Telč is located 32 kilometres from Jihlava. The journey by car or bus
takes about 40 minutes.
During the first day of the trip following in the footsteps of Charles IV exploring the beauty and
history of the Vysočina Region, the region’s two most important towns will be on view.
The first of these is Jihlava, the oldest Royal Mining Town, whose history is written in silver removed
by pick and shovel from the surrounding mines. Jihlava was acquired by John of Luxembourg in
1311 and in 1325 it was named as the first mining town of the Kingdom of Bohemia. Its privileged
position concerning issues relating to mining laws was confirmed by John’s son Charles IV.
An ideal place to start the tour in Jihlava is below ground in one of the largest catacombs in the
country (alongside Znojmo). It owes its popularity to the purported paranormal phenomena that can
occasionally be seen there. The entrance to the catacombs is in Hluboká Street. After returning to
the surface, move on to the observation tower of the Church of St. James the Greater, the most
significant building on Jakubské Square. The 63 metre high tower was completed in the early 14th
century and offers a beautiful view of the surroundings. Near the square there is a house where the
world renowned conductor Gustav Mahler lived for fifteen years. There is an exposition documenting
his life and work.
After visiting the sights of Jihlava it will surely be time for lunch. The Vysočina Region is known for a
multitude of regional specialities made of mushrooms and potatoes, such as the mushroom soup and
potato pancakes called “vopelky”.
The journey continues in Telč, a town with a unique historical centre included among UNESCO
World Heritage in 1992. This ancient town was bought back by Charles, the then Margrave of
Moravia in the 1330s and a few years later it was ceded to Oldřich of Hradec. The first stop will be
the Chateau, one of the gems of Moravian Renaissance architecture. The Chateau’s original interiors
have been preserved in very good condition; many of them are representative examples of Italian art
in the Czech territory. Telč owes its Renaissance heritage to Zacharias of Hradec, the most
significant personality of its history.
Therefore you should take a stroll around the Square of Zachariáš of Hradec, unique for the
architectural diversity of its buildings connected by Renaissance and Baroque arcades. The most
interesting buildings are House No. 15, House No. 32 with a Baroque facade, House No. 61 – the
oldest in the square, decorated with sgraffito drawings representing military leaders from the Old
Testament, the massive building of the town hall and the Jesuit College. Telč also has its own
catacombs, the crooked corridors of which served mostly as storage space, but were sometimes also
used by the people of Telč as a last hiding place from enemies. It is no wonder that they are featured
in many legends. Today there is an exciting multimedia exposition installed on a 150-metre long part
of the catacombs.
Day 2
Třebíč is situated 35 km from Telč. The journey takes 40 minutes by car, or you can make use of
public transport.
The second day of the trip to the Vysočina Region begins in Třebíč, a town whose fortification walls
were constructed by permission of Charles in 1335 when he was Margrave of Moravia. Its biggest
attraction is the Jewish quarter of global significance, where the journey around Třebíč starts. Its
monuments are the only Jewish heritage outside the territory of Israel included in the UNESCO
World Heritage list.
The next stop is the Basilica of St. Procopius with an exceptionally well-preserved Romanesque
crypt. In 2015 the wedding of Charles IV and Blanche of Valois was shot here for a Czech
biographical film about the world renowned sovereign.
Next to see is the Municipal Tower adjacent to the Church of St. Martin. The year of its construction
is not known, but it was supposedly built after Charles, then the Margrave of Moravia, granted the
town the right to build fortification walls. It was also he who commissioned the construction of the
tower. The tower is 75 meters high and its clock belongs among the largest in Europe. You definitely
should not miss out on seeing the Chateau, originally a Benedictine monastery, which became the
region’s centre of scholarship under the reign of Charles IV.
Before the last stage of the journey, make time to have lunch in one of the stylish restaurants of
Třebíč. Then continue on to the town of Želiv which is situated a one and a half hour drive away and
is the seat of the unique Premonstratensian Canonate. One of its parts is the Church of the Birth of
the Virgin Mary from the first half of the 12th century, which was a significant building of its kind
during the reign of Charles IV. Why not finish the busy day with an excursion to the
Premonstratensian Brewery, where you can learn about the history and present day of the site and
beer production.
Useful contacts
město Jihlava: Tel: +420 567 167 158-9,
Address: Turistické informační centrum - radnice, Masarykovo náměstí 96/2, 586 01 Jihlava,
GPS: 49.3959228,15.5912947
zámek Telč: Tel: +420 567 243 943,
Address: Zámek Telč, náměstí Zachariáše z Hradce 1, 588 56 Telč, GPS:
49.1853756,15.4513825
město Třebíč: Tel: +420 568 847 070,
Address: Tursitické informační centrum Národní dům, Karlovo náměstí 47, 674 01 Třebíč,
GPS: 49.2155378,15.8799475
Kanonie premonstrátů v Želivě: Tel: +420 565 581 193,
Address: Opatství Želiv, Želiv 122, 394 44 Želiv, GPS: 49.5296372,15.2151489
Accommodation tips
Restaurace a Hotel U Hraběnky: Tel: +420 776 178 551, Email: [email protected],
Address: Slavatovská 96, 588 56, Telč, GPS: 49.186841388889,15.450338888889
Hotel U Černého orla: Tel: +420 731 907 222, Email: [email protected],
Address: Náměstí Zachariáše z Hradce 7, 588 56, Telč, GPS:
49.184428055556,15.452481111111
Hotel Pangea: Tel: + 420 567 213 122, Email: [email protected],
Address: Na Baště 450, 588 56, Telč -Štěpnice, GPS: 49.186663055556,15.4522725
Hotel na Hrázi: Tel: +420 725 484 908, Email: [email protected] ,
Address: Na Hrázi 78, 588 56, Telč, GPS: 49.181557222222,15.453659722222
Hotel Celerin: Tel: +420 567 243 477, Email: [email protected],
Address: Náměstí Zachariáše z Hradce 43, 588 56, Telč, GPS: 49.183745,15.455436388889
Penzion Galerie Telč: Tel: +420 774 892 263, Email: [email protected],
Address: Na Můstku 37, 588 56, Telč, GPS: 49.183303888889,15.454948611111
Fara Rančírov: Tel: +420 567 109 720, Email: [email protected],
Address: Rančířov 1, 586 01 Jihlava, GPS: 49.3624627,15.588463
EA Business Hotel Jihlava: Tel: +420 567 117 444, Email:
[email protected],
Address: Havlíčkova 5628/28, 586 01, Jihlava, GPS: 0.15931825636111,0.094693339833333
Hotel Gustav Mahler: Tel: +420 567 564 400, Email: [email protected],
Address: Křížová 4, 586 01 Jihlava, GPS: 50.078542411268,14.437494277954
Hotel Joseph1699: Tel: +420 561 200 540, Email: [email protected],
Address: Skalní 85/8, 674 01 Třebíč, GPS: 0.15619185555556,0.099588769444444
Hotel Atom: Tel: +420 561 200 123, Email: [email protected],
Address: Velkomeziříčská 640/45, 674 01 Třebíč, GPS:
0.15621151111111,0.099816653583333
Restaurant tips
Švejk restaurant Telč: Tel: +420 602 133 809, Email: [email protected] ,
Address: Nám. Zachariáše z Hradce 1, 588 56, Telč, GPS: 49.185294444444,15.452585833333
B2B Café Restaurant: Tel: +420 778 033 115, Email: [email protected] ,
Address: Kollárova 1a, 586 01 Jihlava - Bedřichov, GPS:
0.15950825441667,0.094811993305556
Nika-atrium: Tel: +420 567 320 449, Email: [email protected],
Address: Husova 36, 586 01 Jihlava, GPS: 0.15922548552778,0.094668973722222
Radniční restaurace a pivovar: Tel: +420 774 570 365, Email: [email protected],
Address: Masarykovo náměstí 66/67, 586 01 Jihlava, GPS:
0.15921593055556,0.094735395944444
Tři knížata: Tel: +420 567 210 933, Email: [email protected],
Address: Masarykovo náměstí 44, 586 01 Jihlava, GPS:
0.15919844558333,0.094717434833333
Coqpit: Tel: +420 607 160 027, Email: [email protected],
Address: Havlíčkovo nábřeží 39, Třebíč - Zámostí 674 01, GPS:
0.15618082302778,0.099623961361111